Swimmers take 3 golds at CARIFTA championships
(CNS Local Life): Cayman’s swimmers earned 11 medals, including three gold, on the first day of competition at the 34th annual CARIFTA Aquatics Championships being held in Barbados through Tuesday, 23 April. Taking the top spot on the podium for Cayman on Saturday, 20 April, all in girls’ events were Raya Embry-Brown, for her first of two on the day, in the 13-14 800m freestyle, Sabine Ellison in the 15-17 200m breaststroke, and the 13-14 4x100m freestyle relay team.
The gold-medal-winning relay swimmers were Avery Lambert, Kyra Rabess, Sophie Ackerley and Embry-Brown.
Taking silver were Jake Bailey in the 15-17 boys’ 1500m freestyle, the boys’ team in the 15-17 4x100m freestyle relay (Liam Henry, Jordan Crooks, Zach Moore and Bailey); Lambert, for her second medal of the day, in the 13-14 girls’ 800m freestyle, 1.18 seconds behind compatriot Embury-Brown; and Elana Sinclair in the 15-17 girls’ 800m freestyle.
Rounding out the day’s haul were bronze medallists Kaitlyn Sullivan in the 11-12 girls’ 200m breaststroke, Crooks in the 15-17 boys’ 50m backstroke, Harper Barrowman in the 11-12 girls’ 100m butterfly and the 15-17 girls’ 4x100m freestyle relay (Ali Jackson, Ellison, Sinclair and Tabitha Hawkins).
Corey Frederick-Westerborg finished just off the medal pace, coming in fourth in the 13-14 boys’ 100m butterfly, less than one second out of the bronze. Stefano Bonati also was left off the podium, coming in fourth in the 13-14 boys’ 1500m freestyle, about nine seconds from bronze.
Lila Higgo, also came close, finishing about three seconds behind Sullivan, to take fourth in the 11-12 girls’ 200m breaststroke, and taking that spot again in the 50m backstroke, just one second out of the bronze.
Cayman looks to improve on its showing in the 2018 CARIFTA aquatics championships, which were held in Jamaica, when the team brought home 34 medals, ranking fifth in country totals.
See photos of Cayman’s first day of competition in Barbados below (Photo credit: Cayman SwimCarifta Facebook page) (click to enlarge)
